Vietnam hosts ASEAN anniversary in Australia

The Vietnamese Consulate in Perth, Australia organised a flag hoisting
ceremony on August 1 to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the
establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The event attracted ASEAN member nation diplomats serving in West
Australia, local officials, and current ASEAN expatriates and students.

West Australian Governor Malcolm McCusker praised
ASEAN’s expanding relationship with Australia. He said he hopes the
fruitful friendship and cooperation will continue developing into the
future.

Consul General Le Viet Duyen described the
flag hoisting ceremony as a display of the solidarity towards efforts to
build a strong ASEAN community by 2015.

An ASEAN community
with a rising international profile will facilitate peace, stability and
prosperity both regionally and globally, Duyen said.

The Vietnamese diplomat also highlighted recent landmarks in
ASEAN-Australia relations, mentioning successes spanning economics,
politics, education, science and technology, and national defence and
security, especially since the two sides set up their comprehensive
partnership in 2007 and signed the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free
Trade Agreement in 2009.

He voiced his hope that more
exchanges and cooperation activities will be promoted between ASEAN
member countries and West Australia, heading towards the 40 th
anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia dialogue partnership in 2014.

On the evening of the same day, ASEAN representative offices in
Perth also jointly held a culture and food festival to introduce the
specialities of the bloc’s member countries to local friends.-VNA